Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Year:2007 | Volume:15 | Issue:59|Papers Count:11

Background and Objective: Tramadol is an analgesic with combined opioid agonist and monoamine reuptake blocker properties which may be useful as a preoperative analgesic and antinociceptive adjuvant.The aim of this study was the evaluation of preoperative tramadol administration on pain intensity, postoperative analgesic consumption and side effects compared to placebo.Materials and Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial 70 infertile, ASA class I or II patients were scheduled for diagnostic gynecologic laparoscopy. Fifty mg tramadol was injected into 35 patients before the operation and the other 35 patients received normal saline. Results: The patients who received preoperative tramadol, had a lower pain score within six hours after the operation (1.31±0.94 compared to 2.93±0.55; p< 0.0001). Ten patients (28.57%) in tramadol group and 33 patients in placebo group had post-operative pain (p< 0.0001). The mean consumption of post-operative tramadol was statistically lower in treatment group (9.46 ±25.92) than in placebo group (45.95 ± 37.96) ;(p<0.0001). Post- operative sedation level 15 minutes (p=0.71) and 30 minutes (p=0.88) after the operation had no significant difference between the two groups. The frequency of post-operative nausea in treatment group (5.71 %) was significantly lower than placebo group (25.71 %); (p=0.04).Conclusion: Administration of a single dose of tramadol one hour before operation provides effective preemptive analgesia in patients undergoing diagnostic gynecologic laparoscopies without affecting sedation level.

Background and Objective: Locus coeruleus (LC) has been hypothesized to play an important role in a variety of behaviors and opiate withdrawal. This study was designed to determine the effects of reversible inactivation of LC on self-administration of morphine and morphine- withdrawal syndrome signs (MWS).Materials and Methods: 24 male rats (250-300gr) were surgically implanted bilaterally with cannula in LC then implanted with catheters in the right jugular vein. The rats were tested in 2 groups:Control (saline) and morphine. Morphine group was divided into 3 subgroups: control, sham-operated and LC-inactivated group where they received 1mL 2% Lidocaine 5 minutes prior to testing. Animals were allowed to self-administer morphine (1mg/infusion) during 10 consecutive days for 2 hours. The number of lever pressing was recorded. At the end of the training day all groups received naloxone (2mg/kg I.P) and MWS were studied for 30 minutes.Results: LC inactivation prevents the development of tolerance and dependence on morphine and greatly attenuates morphine-withdrawal syndrome.Conclusion: LC inactivation not only attenuates morphine withdrawal syndrome but also prevents morphine tolerance and dependence in rats.

Background and Objective: Botulinum neurotoxin type A, structurally consists of a 50KD light chain and a 100KD heavy chain linked by a disulfide bond. The protein can further be divided into three functional domains of which catalytic domain corresponds to the light chain. In this research we aimed to produce recombinant catalytic domain in order to obtain a protective protein.Materials and Methods: Bacteria were grown in anaerobic conditions and genomic DNA was extracted by alkaline method. Following the gene coding a set of primers was designed and the catalytic domain was amplified through PCR. The PCR product was then cloned into three expression vectors namely pRSETA, pET28a and pET32a. The expressed protein was analyzed on SDS-PAGE and confirmed by ELISA and western blotting and then purified by affinity chromatography.Results: In this research the maximum expression was obtained at 0.5 mM IPTG,OD600: 0.6 and 15 hours of induction at 30oC. The protein so expressed was purified by affinity coulmn chromatography The antibody raised against recombinant protein could protect the rats by 100 LD50 .Discussion: Though the expression of AT- rich genes in E.coli system is low, we could obtain an appropriate level of expression in this study. The purification of recombinant protein in the early stages was elusive in the extreme by affinity chromatography due to the weak binding of histidine N-terminal to the column, howerer 90% purification was achieved through modification of the technique. The antibody produced against this domain was less protective compared to that of binding domain.

Background and Objective: Increased level of dopamine in accumbens nucleus has a key role in the rewarding effects or positive reinforcement of abused drugs, whereas serotonin facilitates dopamine release in brain .The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of concurrent use of amantadine and paroxetine on reinforcing effect of morphine in conditioned place preference model in mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study male NMRI mice (20-30 g) were used within 6 consecutive days including preconditioning, conditioning and postconditioning phases. On the first day, after removal of the partitions, time spent in every 3 compartments was measured for 10 minutes. After determination of low and high preferred side, animals received morphine sulfate (5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally on the 2nd and 4th days in the least preferred side, but on the 3rd and 5th days of the test, animals received saline (10ml/kg) in high preferred side. On the test day or postconditioning phase, animals received amantadine, and paroxetine alone or their concurrent does, instead of morphine. Control group received saline in both sides (n=8). Results: Our results show that morphine significantly and dose dependently (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) induced CPP (P<0.001). Amantadine, only in doses of 5 and 10 mg /kg (P<0.01, P<0.001, respectively) induced CPP. Paroxetine induced CPP in all doses. Concurrent use of amantadine (10mg/kg) and paroxetine (10mg/kg) significantly enhances morphine - like CPP (P<0.001). Conclusion: Concurrent use of drugs, releases dopamine and inhibit reuptake of serotonin, and may potentiate morphine-like CPP and could be useful in decreasing some opioid withdrawal signs.

Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) especially type A, is accompanied by disturbances in learning, memory, and cognitive skills in human society and experimental animals. Regarding the beneficial effect of SM on lipid peroxidation in hyperlipidemia and on serum lipids in DM, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of prolonged oral administration of SM on learning and memory in diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: Female wistar rats (n=36) were randomly divided into control, SM-treated control, diabetic, and SM-treated diabetic groups. Treatment groups received a mixture of SM and standard rat food at a weight ratio of 6.25% for 4 weeks. To induce diabetes, streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally at a single dose of 60 mg/kg. For evaluation of learning and memory, initial latency (IL) and step-through latency (STL) were determined at the end of the study using passive avoidance test. Meanwhile, alternation behavior percentage was determined using Y maze test.Results: There was a significant increase (p=0.032) in IL in diabetic and SM-treated diabetic groups after 4 weeks compared to control group. There was no significant difference between diabetic and SM-treated diabetic groups. On the other hand, STL decreased significantly (p=0.032) in diabetic group while it increased significantly (p=0.027) in SM-treated group compared to control group at the end of the study. The results of Y maze showed that alternation score was not different between treated and untreated diabetic groups.Conclusion: SM could enhance the consolidation and recall capability of stored information but did not affect spatial memory of diabetic animals.

Background and Objective: Numerous studies on Clasporidium herbarum antigens have shown that these antigens play a major role in produceing specific IgE in atopic individuals and exacerbate the patients’ clinical conditions like atopic dermatitis. Thus, in this study allergenic components of clasporium herbarum were investigated using immunoblotting technique.Materials and Methods: Cladosporium herbarum was cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar. The grown mycelia were harvested and ruptured by liquid nitrogen and glass beads. Samples were centrifuged and the supernatant was collected as crude extract. The crude extract was separated through sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The separated proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose filter and then soaked through atopic dermatitis patients’ sera. The responsive bands to IgE were re vealed by antihuman IgE antibodies conjugated with enzyme in chromogenic substrate. Results: In SDS-PAGE, the crude extract of Cladosporium herbarum showed 16 different protein bands with molecular weight between 15.1 and 110 kDa. The bands with 15.1, 18.4, 25.1, 36.3, 45 and 54 kDa were identified as strong bands. In immunoblotting, the bands with molecular weights of 15.1, 18.4, 42 and 110 kDa showed a strong reaction with IgE sera from patients with atopic dermatitis.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the strong bands in SDS-PAGE had the highest reaction with anti- Cladosporium herbarum IgE antibody in immunoblotting technique. Thus, we speculate the intensity of bands can affect IgE response. Like other studies we contend that Cladosporium herbarum antigen can initiate allergic reaction in atopic dermatitis patients.

Background and Objective: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disorder with progressive muscle wasting and weakness. This disease is the consequence of mutations in dystrophin gene located on X chromosome. Inheritance pattern of the disease is gene-dependent recessive with an incidence of one in 3500 alive male newborns. Due to the absence of efficient treatment, detection of female carriers is essential for genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis.Materials and Methods: 14 DMD families were referred to the genetic laboratory by specialists. DNA was extracted from the whole peripheral blood and analyzed by gene tracking technique. All members of the families were studied through 7 microsatellites located in and around dystrophin gene. Results: 37 females at the risk of being DMD carriers and 7 obligate carriers were studied and ultimately 27 females (72.97 %) were identified as carriers or non-carriers.Conclusion: In the families who were diagnosed as DMD patients by clinical and preclinical procedure's gene tracking is a reliable and less expensive technique for female carrier-status identification with a 95-100% confidence.

Background and Objective: Due to importance of ionizing radiation on human health, many studies have been performed to measure the background gamma radiation all around the world as well as some cities in lran. This study was carried out to measure the amount of background gamma radiation in outdoor areas in different seasons in Zanjan to determine the annual effective dose of the city residents.Materials and Methods: To determine the dose rate of background gamma radiation in outdoor areas, 8 stations (4 in the main directions and 4 in the downtown areas) were selected using the map of the city. Eight measurements were performed for each station (twice in each season) using Geiger-Muller detector (RDS-110) calibrated by Cs-137.Results: The mean value of dose rate and the annual effective dose due to background gamma radiation in different season in Zanjan were determined 126 nGy/h and 0.15 mSv respectively. The minimum and maximum mean values of dose rate were found 120±21 nGy/h and 134±18 nGy/h in summer and spring respectively.Conclusion: The results show that the dose rate and the annual effective dose for the city residents due to the background gamma radiation in outdoor areas is twice as much as international mean value reported by UNSCEAR-2000. To determine the total annual effective dose of Zanjan residents, measuring the dose rate in indoor areas is necessary.

Background and objective: Opioid addiction is a major social problem among all societies worldwide. According to official reports there are about 1,200,000 chronic addicts and 800,000 recreational consumers throughout the country. One of the perplexing problems regarding addiction is its relapse since 50% of rehabilitated Iranian addicts tend to reconsumption. The aim of this study is to determine the socicl and environmental factors related to the relapse of opioid addiction.Materials and methods: In this descriptive study 96 volunteer male addicts referring to rehabilitation center of welfare organization were selected through convenient sampling. The survey tool was the questionnaire whose validity and reliability had bean confirmed before the application. Data collecting wa carried out by two trained experts through structured interview within three months. The data was analysed using SPSS - Win software.Results: The results showed that the mean age of research population was 34.66 ± 8.52. All study cases had experienced at least one attempt to quit drug use. The investigation regarding the career factor showed that they believed lack of permanent job (51%), exhausting work conditions (42.7%), failure in career achievement (41.7 %) were the leading factors in relapse of opioids substance use. The addicts reported their viewpoints regarding the other factors as follows: cost of living burden (53.1%), educational factors (poor literacy skills (33.3%), and illiteracy (19.8%). Among familial factors in singles, lack of appropriate family relations (43.7%), and in married addicts, marital discord (22.5%), and lack of proper interaction among family members (21.2%) were the major factors. Regarding the social factors convenient availability of opioids substance (85.4%), common use of opioids in public (80.2%), and association with addicted friends (70.8%) were the leading factors.Conclusion: the study results indicated that among investigated factors, social, occupational and economic factors rank the most important factors in relapse of opioid addiction. Accordingly, a few recommendations ave been given.

Sciatic nerve, as the largest branch of the sacral plexus and the thickest nerve of the body, forms from the union of ventral branches of L4-S3. Then it leaves the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen below the piriformis and descends between the greater trochanter and ischial tuberosity. Afterwards, it divides into the tibial and the common proneal nerves, most frequently at the level of the upper angle of the popliteal fossa. Bifurcation into its two major divisions may occur, anywhere, between the sacral plexus and the upper angle of the popliteal fossa.However, concurrent occurrence of these variations: dividing of the sciatic nerve into two terminal branches in pelvis, existence of piriformis with completely separated upper and lower parts, the common proneal nerve passing through the two parts of piriformis in which one part of inferior gluteal nerve fibers and tibial nerve passing under the lower part of this muscle in company with the other part of inferior gluteal nerve, is a rare and very important phenomenon.This phenomenon may be of great importance in view of both entrapment of these members between two parts of piriformis which can lead to "piriformis syndrome", and being next to the muscular injection site of the gluteal region. Furthermore, it might be of major significance for medical specialists in particular for anatomists and surgeons to reduce the postoperative complications.